Unemployment rate in Illinois rises to 11.3 percent

Posted March 9, 2010 at 2:26 p.m.

By Michael Oneal
|
The Illinois unemployment rate jumped to 11.3 percent in January from a revised rate of 11 percent in December, the state Department of Employment Security reported Tuesday.

The rate was the highest since August 1983 and a three month rolling average of payroll employment shows the state continues to lose jobs.


The Illinois jobless rate compares to a national rate of 9.7 percent reported for both January and February. February data for Illinois will be reported later this month. Since the recession began in December 2007, Illinois has lost 407,000 jobs, while the national as a whole has lost 8.4 million.

“Although there are some signs the recession technically might have ended, there continues to be significant job pressures in Illinois and throughout the country,” said IDES Director Maureen O’Donnell.

 

6 comments:

  1. James March 9, 2010 at 4:33 pm

    Great news!!! Now when are they going to stick it to us?

  2. small biz owner March 9, 2010 at 4:56 pm

    Its no wonder the rate is going up, especially when the Illinois Department of Employment Security keeps increasing the unemployment insurance rate for Illinois businesses. My rate went up 1% this year even though I haven’t laid off any employees – EVER.
    So, what does that mean for my employees? Hours and pay have been reduced in order to offset the additional unemployment insurance cost. Nice that the employed now get to make less to cover those who don’t want to get a job.
    Now if some genius in Springfield thinks that raising the corporate income tax rate isn’t going to impact employment, and magically fix all our problems, well then I’ve got a bridge to sell you.

  3. Chris C March 9, 2010 at 5:23 pm

    small biz owner: you’re a fool and an idiot if you buy into the cr@p that is floating around from bigots proposing that we unemployed like scraping by on $385 a week to pay for mortgage/rent, food, car, gas and other bills. Tell your employees to suck it up like we have had to since this began in 2008. They have a job, should get on their knees and thank whoever they call God, and stop whining about no raises. The alternative is not pleasant.
    And don’t say take anything for work …unless many of us can even remotely approach our prior earnings, what it would cost for elder care or kids’ day care would put us net behind.
    Those of us unemployed will remember the self serving arrogance of those who blast us in these blogs.

  4. No pity here March 9, 2010 at 8:13 pm

    Small biz owner, I feel no pity for you. You’ve reaped the benefits of a surplus economy prior to Bush and sure didn’t complain then. Now you need to make sacrifices and you try to blame a scapegoat–the unemployed. Well, I have news for you: The unemployed didn’t ask to be there. Try blaming downright financial greed. As for the unemployed not wanting to find a job, what planet are you on? It is bigots like you who perpetuate the myth of the unemployed being lazy, which is not true in 99% of the cases. You know why you should support your unemployed neighbor? Because you may be there yourself someday…or it may be your spouse, or your child, or your grandchild. A one percent increase is really nothing, compared to the 33% and higher cut in pay and relocation sacrifices many unemployed people must make when they accept a contract or temporary job just to put food on the table.

  5. jm March 9, 2010 at 11:26 pm

    You are all dufusses!
    (except for the wizard who recognizes the govt will stick it to them!)
    The government can’t provide anything.
    Neither protection for your unemployment. Nor the protection in a worldwide economy.
    Employee: Learn a skill and provide for yourself!
    Employer: Push the government out of the way by eliminating them and deal with the free market economy!

  6. unemployed mom March 15, 2010 at 6:58 a.m.

    To the business owner….Too lazy to work or get a job….On that lucky you for having a business…Im a single mom and was fired for something that is not even in their policy book…I loved my job I was a retail manager for almost 4 years with the same company……And yes tell your employees to suck it up it could be you or them 1 day…And I wouldnt want anyone to feel the wrath of unemployment….There are no jobs in my feild now and my unemployment is done…Now I’m faced with raising a child who begins school next year and am not sure how I will even feed him…Being unemployed is NO joke, it’s scary and takes a toll on you mentally if you have a child a home or even a car…This is AMERICA all of you opposed to helping fellow AMERICANS must not know what reality is…And 1 more thing “learn a skill”, the government only provides so much in financial aid…